Mobile electronic device, method of controlling mobile electronic device, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A mobile electronic device comprises a display, an operation detector, and a processor. The operation detector is capable of detecting a first touch operation and a second touch operation on the display performed by a part of a human body. The processor is configured to execute a control process responsive to the first touch operation and the second touch operation. The part of the human body performing the second touch operation is located in a position farther from the display than a position of the part of the human body performing the first touch operation. The processor is configured to execute the control process while handling the first touch operation and the second touch operation performed continuously as a single touch operation, depending on a time lag between the first touch operation and the second touch operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation based on PCT Application No.PCT/JP2015/068329 filed on Jun. 25, 2015, entitled “PORTABLE ELECTRONICAPPARATUS, PORTABLE ELECTRONIC APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND RECORDINGMEDIUM,” which claims the benefit of Japanese Application No.2014-131388 filed on Jun. 26, 2014, entitled “MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE,METHOD OF CONTROLLING MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND PROGRAM.”The contentof which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a mobileelectronic device.

BACKGROUND

A structure with a display having a touch panel on the front of a casingis a mainstream structure employed in recent years for a mobile terminalsuch as a mobile phone. A mobile terminal of this structure detects anoperation on the display by a user using the touch panel.

SUMMARY

A mobile electronic device, a method of controlling a mobile electronicdevice, and a recording medium are disclosed. In one embodiment, amobile electronic device comprises a display, an operation detector, anda processor. The operation detector is capable of detecting a firsttouch operation and a second touch operation on the display performed bya part of a human body. The processor is configured to execute a controlprocess responsive to the first touch operation and the second touchoperation. The part of the human body performing the second touchoperation is located in a position farther from the display than aposition of the part of the human body performing the first touchoperation. The processor is configured to execute the control processwhile handling the first touch operation and the second touch operationperformed continuously as a single touch operation, depending on a timelag between the first touch operation and the second touch operation.

In one embodiment, a method of controlling a mobile electronic device isa method of controlling a mobile electronic device comprising a displayand an operation detector. The operation detector is capable ofdetecting a first touch operation and a second touch operation on thedisplay performed by a part of a human body. The part of the human bodyperforming the second touch operation is located in a position fartherfrom the display than a position of the part of the human bodyperforming the first touch operation. The method comprises a step ofdetecting a time lag between the first touch operation and the secondtouch operation. The method comprises a step of executing a controlprocess while handling the first touch operation and the second touchoperation performed continuously as a single touch operation dependingon the time lag.

In one embodiment, a recording medium is a computer-readablenon-transitory recording medium storing a control program. The controlprogram is for controlling a mobile electronic device comprising adisplay and an operation detector. The operation detector is capable ofdetecting a first touch operation and a second touch operation on thedisplay performed by a part of a human body. The part of the human bodyperforming the second touch operation is located in a position fartherfrom the display than a position of the part of the human bodyperforming the first touch operation. The control program causes themobile electronic device to execute a control process while causing themobile electronic device to handle the first touch operation and thesecond touch operation performed continuously as a single touchoperation, depending on a time lag between the first touch operation andthe second touch operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a mobile phone;

FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of the mobile phone;

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of the mobile phone;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing an entire structure of themobile phone;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between atouch panel and a detection threshold;

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and the detection threshold;

FIG. 7 illustrates a display on which a home screen is displayed;

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and a finger being moved closer to the touch panel slowly interms of their positions;

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and the finger being moved closer to the touch panel slowlyin terms of their positions;

FIG. 10 illustrates a conceptual view showing timing of issuance of atouch event and a release event by a controller;

FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic view showing an example of entry on alock screen with a finger being moved closer to the touch panel slowly;

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic view showing an example of entry on thelock screen with the finger being moved closer to the touch panelslowly;

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart showing a touch detection controlprocess;

FIG. 14 illustrates a flowchart showing the touch detection controlprocess;

FIG. 15 illustrates a conceptual view showing a detection signal outputfrom a touch detector when a finger is moved closer to the touch panelslowly and timing of issuance of a touch event and a release event bythe controller;

FIG. 16 illustrates a schematic view showing an example of entry on thelock screen with a finger being moved closer to the touch panel slowly;

FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and a finger being moved farther from the touch panel slowlyin terms of their positions;

FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and the finger being moved farther from the touch panelslowly in terms of their positions;

FIG. 19 illustrates a conceptual view showing timing of issuance of atouch event and a release event by the controller;

FIG. 20 illustrates a flowchart showing a touch detection controlprocess;

FIG. 21 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and a finger from which a glove has been removed in terms oftheir positions;

FIG. 22 illustrates a schematic view showing a relationship between thetouch panel and the finger from which the glove has been removed interms of their positions;

FIG. 23 illustrates a flowchart showing a touch detection controlprocess;

FIG. 24 illustrates a flowchart showing an event issuance process;

FIG. 25 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 26 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 27 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 28 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 29 illustrates a flowchart showing a touch detection controlprocess;

FIG. 30 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 31 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of an operation on the touchpanel;

FIG. 32 illustrates a flowchart showing a call control process;

FIG. 33 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of a call; and

FIG. 34 illustrates a schematic view showing how a mode is set at thetouch detector depending on the state of a call.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 3 are a front view, a back view, and a right side view of amobile phone 1 respectively. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, for theconvenience of description, the lengthwise direction of a cabinet 2 willhereinafter be defined as a vertical direction and the widthwisedirection of the cabinet 2 as a horizontal direction. Further, adirection perpendicular to the vertical direction and the horizontaldirection will be defined as a front-back direction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mobile phone 1 includes the cabinet2, a display 3, a touch panel 4, a microphone 5, a call speaker 6, anexternal speaker 7, and a camera 8.

The cabinet 2 has a substantially rectangular outline when viewed fromthe front. The display 3 is arranged on the front side of the cabinet 2.Various images (screens) are displayed on the display 3. The display 3is a liquid crystal display, and includes a liquid crystal panel and anLED backlight to illuminate the liquid crystal panel. The display 3 maybe a display of a different type such as an organic EL display. Thetouch panel 4 is arranged to cover the display 3. The touch panel 4 isformed into a transparent sheet-like shape. Various types of touchpanels are applicable as the touch panel 4 such as a capacitive touchpanel, an ultrasonic touch panel, a pressure-sensitive touch panel, aresistive touch panel, and a photo-detection touch panel.

The microphone 5 is provided at a lower end portion of the inside of thecabinet 2. The call speaker 6 is provided at an upper end portion of theinside of the cabinet 2. The microphone 5 can accept voice having passedthrough a microphone hole 5 a formed in the front of the cabinet 2. Themicrophone 5 can generate an electrical signal responsive to inputsound. The call speaker 6 can output sound. Sound output from the callspeaker 6 passes through an output hole 6 a formed in the front of thecabinet 2 and is then emitted to the outside of the cabinet 2. During acall, voice received from a device as a communication partner (such as amobile phone) is output from the call speaker 6. Voice given by a useris input to the microphone 5. Sound includes various types of sound suchas voice and announcing sound, for example.

The external speaker 7 is provided inside the cabinet 2. Output holes 7a are provided in a region on the back of the cabinet 2 and facing theexternal speaker 7. Sound output from the external speaker 7 passesthrough the output holes 7 a and is then emitted to the outside of thecabinet 2.

The camera 8 is installed on the back side of an upper part of thecabinet 2. The camera 8 can capture an image of a shooting targetexisting in the direction of the back of the mobile phone 1. The camera8 includes an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and alens used for forming an image of a shooting target on the image sensor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing an entire structure of themobile phone 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the mobile phone 1 includes a controller 11, astorage 12, an image output unit 13, a touch detector 14, a voice inputunit 15, a voice output unit 16, a voice processor 17, a key input unit18, a communication unit 19, an imaging unit 20, and an accelerationdetector 21.

The storage 12 includes a ROM, a RAM, and an external memory. Memoriessuch as a ROM and a RAM can be regarded as computer-readablenon-transitory storage media. The storage 12 stores various programs.The programs stored in the storage 12 include a control program forcontrolling each unit of the mobile phone 1 and additionally includesvarious application programs (simply called “applications” hereinafter).For example, the various types of applications in the storage 12 includea telephone application, a message application, a phonebook application(contacts), a camera application, a web browser application, a mapapplication, a game application, and a schedule management application.The programs are stored in the storage 12 by a manufacturer at the timeof manufacture of the mobile phone 1. The programs are also stored inthe storage 12 through a communication network or a storage medium suchas a memory card or a CD-ROM.

The storage 12 contains a working region in which data is stored that isused or generated temporarily at the time of execution of the programs.

The controller 11 includes a CPU. The controller 11 can control eachunit forming the mobile phone 1 (storage 12, image output unit 13, touchdetector 14, voice input unit 15, voice output unit 16, voice processor17, key input unit 18, communication unit 19, imaging unit 20,acceleration detector 21, etc.) based on the programs stored in thestorage 12.

The image output unit 13 includes the display 3 illustrated in FIG. 1.The image output unit 13 can display an image (screen) on the display 3based on a control signal and an image signal from the controller 11.Further, the image output unit 13 can control turning on and off of thelight of the display 3 and adjust the brightness of the display 3 basedon a control signal from the controller 11.

The touch detector 14 includes the touch panel 4 illustrated in FIG. 1and can detect a touch operation on the touch panel 4. Morespecifically, the touch detector 14 can detect a position of contactwith the touch panel 4 by a contact subject such as a user's finger(this position will hereinafter be called a “touch position”). The touchdetector 14 can output a position signal generated based on the detectedtouch position to the controller 11. A touch operation on the touchpanel 4 is to touch a screen and an object displayed on the display 3and can alternatively be called a touch operation on the display 3.

When a user's finger is in proximity to the display 3, specifically, thetouch panel 4, the touch detector 14 can detect the position of thefinger in proximity as a touch position. When the touch panel 4 of thetouch detector 14 is a capacitive touch panel, for example, thesensitivity of the touch detector 14 is adjusted in such a manner thatchange in capacitance exceeds a first detection threshold when a fingeris in proximity to the touch panel 4 and change in capacitance exceeds asecond detection threshold when the finger contacts the touch panel 4.By employing the first and second detection thresholds, a distinctioncan be made between a state in which the finger is in proximity to thetouch panel 4 but does not contact the touch panel 4 and a state inwhich the finger contacts the touch panel 4. In response to a commandfrom the controller 11, the touch detector 14 can make a change betweenvalidating both of the first and second detection thresholds andvalidating only the second detection threshold.

The touch detector 14 detects capacitance at a given time interval.Based on change in the capacitance, the touch detector 14 generates asignal responsive to the state of touch of a finger with the touch panel4 such as touch or release and outputs the resultant signal to thecontroller 11. The interval of detection of the capacitance can be setat an appropriate value in a manner that depends on power consumption bythe touch detector 14.

When the front of the cabinet 2 including the touch panel 4 is coveredby a transparent cover for example made of glass, a finger trying totouch the touch panel 4 contacts the cover and does not contact thetouch panel 4. In this case, the first and second detection thresholdsare set in such a manner that the touch panel 4 detects a touch positionwhen the finger contacts the cover or in proximity to the cover.

FIGS. 5 and 6 each illustrate a schematic view showing a relationshipbetween the touch panel 4 to detect a finger wearing a glove forprotection against cold or for working and each of the first and seconddetection thresholds.

For example, when an operation is performed with a finger wearing aglove as illustrated in FIG. 5, the finger does not contact the touchpanel 4 but the glove contacts the touch panel 4. Meanwhile, when anoperation is performed with a finger not wearing a glove as illustratedin FIG. 6, the finger directly contacts the touch panel 4. The first andsecond detection thresholds are set in such a manner that a distinctioncan be made between capacitance responsive to a distance from a fingerto the touch panel 4 determined when a glove contacts the touch panel 4and capacitance responsive to a distance from the finger to the touchpanel 4 determined when the finger contacts the touch panel 4.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, capacitance is set at afirst detection threshold Th1 when the capacitance is accumulated in thetouch panel 4 with a finger being located in a position P1 slightlyseparated from the touch panel 4. The first detection threshold Th1corresponding to the position P1 slightly separated from the touch panel4 is called a “glove-touch threshold.”

As illustrated in FIG. 6, capacitance is set at a second detectionthreshold Th2 (larger than the first detection threshold Th1) when thecapacitance is accumulated in the touch panel 4 with a finger beinglocated in a position P2 closer to the touch panel 4. The seconddetection threshold Th2 corresponding to the position P2 closer to thetouch panel 4 is called a “finger-touch threshold.” An interval betweenthe positions P2 and P1 is set to be at least at the thickness of aglove or more.

When accumulated capacitance is larger than or equal to the glove-touchthreshold Th1 and less than the finger-touch threshold Th2 with givendetection timing, the touch detector 14 transmits a detection signal tothe controller 11 indicating touch with the touch panel 4 by a fingerwearing a glove (this touch will hereinafter be called “glove-touch”).After the glove-touch, when the accumulated capacitance is less than theglove-touch threshold Th1 with given detection timing, the touchdetector 14 transmits a detection signal to the controller 11 indicatingrelease of the finger wearing the glove (this release will hereinafterbe called “glove-release”). After the glove-touch, when the accumulatedcapacitance is larger than or equal to the finger-touch threshold Th2with given detection timing, the touch detector 14 also transmits adetection signal to the controller 11 indicating “glove-release.” Whenthe accumulated capacitance is larger than or equal to the finger-touchthreshold Th2 with the given detection timing, the touch detector 14transmits a detection signal to the controller 11 indicating touch withthe touch panel 4 by the finger not wearing the glove (this touch willhereinafter be called “finger-touch”). After the finger-touch, when theaccumulated capacitance is less than the finger-touch threshold Th2 withgiven detection timing, the touch detector 14 transmits a detectionsignal to the controller 11 indicating release of the finger not wearingthe glove (this release will hereinafter be called “finger-release”).

As described above, the touch detector 14 transmits a detection signalindicating each of glove-touch, glove-release, finger-touch, andfinger-release. The controller 11 determines the substance of a touchoperation depending on a combination of the types of detection signalsreceived from the touch detector 14 using an application for touchoperation detection. The controller 11 issues a triggering signal(event) responsive to the touch operation. In the below, an event issuedwhen a touch operation is determined to be touch with the touch panel 4by a finger or a glove will be called a “touch event.” Further, an eventissued when a touch operation is determined to be release of the fingeror the glove from the touch panel 4 will be called a “release event.”The controller 11 accepts notification of an event relating to a touchoperation using an application different from the application for touchoperation detection and executes a process responsive to the touchoperation on the different application. A control process responsive tothe touch operation is executed on the different application with noregard for whether the touch operation is glove-touch or finger-touch.

By the provision of the touch panel 4, a user is allowed to performvarious touch operations on the display 3 by making his or her fingertouch the touch panel 4 or moving the finger closer to the touch panel4. For example, the touch operations include a tap operation, a flickoperation, and a slide operation. The tap operation is an operation by auser of making his or her finger contact the touch panel 4 or moving thefinger closer to the touch panel 4 and then releasing the finger fromthe touch panel 4 within short time. The flick operation is an operationby a user of making his or her finger contact the touch panel 4 ormoving the finger closer to the touch panel 4 and then flipping orsweeping the touch panel 4 in any direction with the finger. The slideoperation is an operation by a user of moving his or her finger in anydirection while making the finger continue contacting the touch panel 4or keeping the finger in proximity to the touch panel 4.

For example, when the touch detector 14 detects a touch position and thetouch position goes out of the detection by the touch detector 14 withina predetermined first length of time from when the touch position isdetected, the controller 11 determines that a touch operation is a tapoperation. When the touch position moves a predetermined first distanceor more within a second length of time from when the touch position isdetected and then the touch position goes out of the detection by thetouch detector 14, the controller 11 determines that the touch operationis a flick operation. When the touch position moves a predeterminedsecond distance or more after the touch position is detected, thecontroller 11 determines that the touch operation is a slide operation.

The voice input unit 15 includes the microphone 5. The voice input unit15 can output an electrical signal from the microphone 5 to the voiceprocessor 17.

The voice output unit 16 includes the call speaker 6 and the externalspeaker 7. The voice output unit 16 receives an electrical signal inputfrom the voice processor 17. The voice output unit 16 can output soundthrough the call speaker 6 or the external speaker 7.

The voice processor 17 can process an electrical signal from the voiceinput unit 15 by means of A/D conversion, for example, and output adigital voice signal resulting from the conversion to the controller 11.The voice processor 17 can process a digital voice signal from thecontroller 11 by means of a decoding process and D/A conversion, forexample, and output an electrical signal resulting from the conversionto the voice output unit 16.

The key input unit 18 includes at least one or more hardware keys. Forexample, the key input unit 18 includes a power key, etc. used forpowering on the mobile phone 1. The key input unit 18 can output asignal corresponding to a pressed hardware key to the controller 11.

The communication unit 19 includes a circuit for signal conversion, anantenna for transmission and receipt of radio waves, etc. that areprepared for making a call and communication. The communication unit 19can convert a signal for a call or communication input from thecontroller 11 to a radio signal, and transmit the radio signal resultingfrom the conversion to a communication partner such as a base station ora different communication device through the antenna. Further, thecommunication unit 19 can convert a radio signal received through theantenna to a signal of a format available by the controller 11, andoutput the signal resulting from the conversion to the controller 11.

The imaging unit 20 includes the camera 8 illustrated in FIG. 2, animaging control circuit, etc. The imaging unit 20 can capture movingimages or a still image in response to a control signal from thecontroller 11, execute various image processes and an encoding processon moving image data about the captured moving images or still imagedata about the captured still image, and output the processed movingimage data or still image data to the controller 11.

The acceleration detector 21 includes a triaxial acceleration sensor.The triaxial acceleration sensor can detect accelerations occurring inthe three directions including the front-back direction, the verticaldirection, and the horizontal direction with respect to the mobile phone1. The acceleration detector 21 can output an acceleration signalindicating accelerations detected by the triaxial acceleration sensor tothe controller 11.

FIG. 7 illustrates the display 3 on which a home screen 101 isdisplayed.

In the mobile phone 1, various screens are displayed on the display 3and a user performs various touch operations on the screens. Forexample, the home screen 101 is displayed as an initial screen on thedisplay 3. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the home screen 101 includesmultiple startup icons 101 a used for staring various applications. Themultiple startup icons 101 a include a telephone icon 101 b, a mail icon101 c, a phonebook icon 101 d, and a browser icon 101 e, for example.

A notification bar 102 and an operation key group 103 are displayed onthe display 3 together with the home screen 101. The notification bar102 is displayed above the home screen 101 on the display 3. Thenotification bar 102 includes current time, a level meter indicating abattery level, an intensity meter indicating the intensity of radiowaves, etc. The operation key group 103 is displayed below the homescreen 101. The operation key group 103 includes a setting key 103 a, ahome key 103 b, and a back key 103 c. The setting key 103 a is a keymainly used for displaying a setting screen for making various settingson the display 3. The home key 103 b is a key mainly used for changingdisplay on the display 3 to the home screen 101 from a screen differentfrom the home screen 101. The back key 103 c is a key mainly usedrecovering a process having been executed in a previous step.

To use various applications, a user performs a tap operation on thestartup icon 101 a corresponding to an application to be used. In thisway, the application is started and an execution screen based on theapplication is displayed. Even after the execution screen correspondingto the application being executed is displayed or even after theexecution screen changes in response to progress of the application, thenotification bar 102 still continues to be displayed on the display 3.

First Embodiment

As described above, the touch detector 14 detects capacitance at a giventime interval. Based on the level of the detected capacitance, the touchdetector 14 outputs a detection signal indicating any of glove-touch,glove-release, finger-touch, and finger-release to the controller 11.

FIGS. 8 and 9 each illustrate a schematic view showing a relationshipbetween the touch panel 4 and a finger being moved closer to the touchpanel 4 slowly in terms of their positions. FIG. 10 illustrates aconceptual view showing a detection signal output from the touchdetector 14 when the finger is moved closer to the touch panel 4 slowlyand timing of issuance of a touch event and a release event by thecontroller 11.

When the finger is moved closer to the touch panel 4 slowly, the fingeris first located between the positions P1 and P2 as illustrated in FIG.8. Thus, the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signal indicatingglove-touch Gt. When the finger is located in n position closer to thetouch panel 4 than the position P2 as illustrated in FIG. 9 withsubsequent detection timing, the touch detector 14 outputs a detectionsignal indicating glove-release Gr. When the finger is located in theposition closer to the touch panel 4 than the position P2 as illustratedin FIG. 9 with the subsequent detection timing, the touch detector 14outputs a detection signal indicating finger-touch Ft. When the fingeris located in a position farther from the touch panel 4 than theposition P2 with subsequent detection timing, the touch detector 14outputs a detection signal indicating finger-release Fr.

The controller 11 may be configured to be controlled to issue a touchevent in response to each occurrence of glove-touch or finger-touch andissue a release event in response to each occurrence of glove-release orfinger-release. In this case, when a finger is moved closer to the touchpanel 4 slowly, four events including a touch event T1, a release eventR1, a touch event T2, and a release event R2 are issued, as illustratedin FIG. 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 each illustrate an example of entry on a lock screen 104based on a touch detection control process according to ComparativeExample.

The lock screen 104 includes an entry box 104 a and a numerical keypad104 b. A key in the numerical keypad 104 b having been subjected to atap operation is entered in the entry box 104 a.

When a finger is moved closer to the numerical keypad 104 b slowly, thetouch event T1, the release event R1, the touch event T2, and therelease event R2 are issued as described above. In this case, inresponse to issuance of the touch event T1 and the release event R1 in afirst pair, the numerical keypad 104 b is regarded as having beensubjected to a tap operation. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a valueof a key in the numerical keypad 104 b having been touched is entered inthe entry box 104 a. In response to subsequent issuance of the touchevent T2 and the release event R2 in a second pair, the numerical keypad104 b is regarded as having been subjected to an additional tapoperation. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a value of a key in thenumerical keypad 104 b having been touched is entered in the entry box104 a.

Hence, it is likely that, when both the glove-touch threshold Th1 andthe finger-touch threshold Th2 are valid, a single tap operation on thenumerical keypad 104 b intended by a user will be handled as two tapoperations.

According to a first embodiment, to prevent a tap operation with afinger being moved closer to the touch panel 4 slowly from being handledas two tap operations, the controller 11 executes an event skip controlprocess.

FIGS. 13 and 14 each illustrate a flowchart showing a touch detectioncontrol process according to the first embodiment. The control processof FIGS. 13 and 14 is started by the start of the mobile phone 1 andproceeds in parallel with other control processes such as a controlprocess on each application.

After the mobile phone 1 is started, the touch detection control processis executed and the event skip control process is executed in the touchdetection control process. Processing steps of S206 to S212 in the touchdetection control process illustrated in FIG. 14 correspond to the eventskip control process.

Referring to FIG. 13, after the mobile phone 1 is started, thecontroller 11 first checks to see whether or not screen display on thedisplay 3 has been started (S101). Start of screen display on thedisplay 3 includes the case where the home screen illustrated in FIG. 7is displayed on the display 3 after the mobile phone 1 is powered on,and the case where the mobile phone 1 in a sleep state is released fromlock and then the home screen or a screen corresponding to a certainapplication is displayed on the display 3, for example. The sleep stateis a state in which the mobile phone 1 has bee powered on while thelight of the display 3 is turned off and a touch operation on thedisplay 3 is invalid or restricted.

When screen display on the display 3 has been started (S101: YES), thecontroller 11 determines whether or not a detection signal has beenreceived from the touch detector 14 (S102). The glove-touch thresholdTh1 and the finger-touch threshold Th2, respectively corresponding tothe positions P1 and P2 illustrated in each of FIGS. 5 and 6, arevalidated at the touch detector 14. In this case, the touch detector 14outputs a detection signal indicating any of glove-touch, glove-release,finger-touch, and finger-release at a given time interval.

When a detection signal has not been received from the touch detector 14(S102: NO), the controller 11 determines whether or not the screendisplay on the display 3 has been finished (S103). When the screendisplay on the display 3 has not been finished (S103: NO), thecontroller 11 returns the process to S102 and waits for receipt of adetection signal from the touch detector 14. When a detection signal hasbeen received from the touch detector 14 (S102: YES), the controller 11executes an event issuance process indicated in FIG. 14 (S104).

Referring to FIG. 14, upon execution of the event issuance process, thecontroller 11 determines whether the received detection signal indicatesglove-touch (S201), glove-release (S202), finger-touch (S203), orfinger-release (S204).

When the detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesglove-touch (S201: YES), the controller 11 issues a touch event (S205).

When the detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesglove-release (S202: YES), the controller 11 starts a timer to startmeasuring a length of time elapsed since the detection signal indicatingglove-release was obtained from the touch detector 14 (S206). Afterstarting the timer, the controller 11 determines whether or not adetection signal has been received from the touch detector 14 (S207).When a detection signal has not been received from the touch detector 14(S207: NO), the controller 11 advances the process to S209. When adetection signal has been received from the touch detector 14 (S207:YES), the controller 11 determines whether or not the detection signalfrom the touch detector 14 indicates finger-touch (S208). When thedetection signal from the touch detector 14 does not indicatefinger-touch (S208: NO), the controller 11 determines whether or not thelength of time measured by the timer exceeds a given threshold length oftime Tt (S209). The threshold length of time Tt is set at a length atleast longer than a time interval of output of a detection signal by thetouch detector 14. For example, the threshold length of time Tt is setat a length several times larger than the time interval of output of adetection signal by the touch detector 14. When the length of timemeasured by the timer does not exceed the threshold length of time Tt(S209: NO), the controller 11 returns the process to S207. In this way,it is determined whether or not the touch detector 14 has output adetection signal indicating finger-touch for a lapse of the thresholdlength of time Tt after output of the detection signal indicatingglove-release from the touch detector 14.

When a detection signal indicating finger-touch has been received fromthe touch detector 14 for a lapse of the threshold length of time Tt(S208: YES), the controller 11 stops the timer (S210) and advances theprocess to S103 without issuing both of a touch event and a releaseevent. In this way, when there is finger-touch within a short length oftime after the occurrence of glove-release, issuance of eventsresponsive to these detection signals is skipped.

When a count on the timer exceeds the threshold length of time Tt (S209:YES) while a detection signal indicating finger-touch has not beenreceived from the touch detector 14 (S208: NO) for a lapse of thethreshold length of time Tt, the controller 11 stops the timer (S211)and issues a release event (S212). When finger-touch is determined notto have occurred continuously with glove-release in this way, thisglove-release is regarded as resulting from release of a finger wearinga glove. Then, a release event is issued. In this way, the touchoperation with the finger wearing the glove is detected as illustratedin FIG. 5 and a function responsive to the touch operation is executedon each application.

When the detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesfinger-touch (S203: YES), the controller 11 issues a touch event (S213).When the detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesfinger-release (S204: YES), the controller 11 issues a release event(S214).

When the event issuance process is finished in the aforementioned way orwhen the detection signal from the touch detector 14 does not indicateany of glove-touch, glove-release, finger-touch, and finger-release(S204: NO), the controller 11 advances the process to S103 illustratedin FIG. 13. When determining that the screen display has not beenfinished, the controller 11 monitors receipt of a subsequent signal fromthe touch detector 14 (S102).

When the screen display is finished (S103), the controller 11 completesthe touch detection control process and makes the touch detector 14 stopthe touch detection process. For example, when a fixed length of timehas elapsed in the absence of any operation to bring the mobile phone 1into the sleep state, the screen display is finished.

When the touch event or the release event on the touch panel 4 is issuedin the aforementioned way, the controller 11 executes a processresponsive to the notified event on an application while an executionscreen corresponding to this application is displayed on the display 3.When a touch event responsive to a button icon is notified while thisbottom icon is displayed on the display 3 and then a release event isnotified within a given length of time, for example, this bottom icon isregarded as having been subjected to a tap operation. In this case, thecontroller 11 executes a process on the application responsive to thetap operation on the button icon while an execution screen correspondingto this application is displayed on the display 3.

FIG. 15 illustrates a conceptual view showing a detection signal outputfrom the touch detector 14 when a finger is moved closer to the touchpanel 4 slowly and timing of issuance of a touch event and a releaseevent by the controller 11 according to the first embodiment.

As described above, when the finger is moved closer to the touch panel 4slowly, the touch detector 14 sequentially outputs detection signalsindicating glove-touch Gt, glove-release Gr, finger-touch Ft, andfinger-release Fr in this order.

According to the first embodiment, as illustrated in the flowchart ofFIG. 14, when a detection signal indicating glove-touch Gt has beenreceived (S201: YES), the controller 11 issues the touch event T1(S205). When a detection signal indicating finger-touch Ft has beenreceived (S208: YES) for a lapse of the threshold length of time Tt(S209: NO) after receipt of a detection signal indicating glove-releaseGr (S202: YES), issue of a touch event and a release event is skipped. Adetection signal indicating finger-release Fr is thereafter receivedfrom the touch detector 14 (S204: YES). Then, the controller 11 issuesthe release event R1 (S214).

As described above, when a detection signal indicating finger-touch Fthas been received for a lapse of the threshold length of time Tt afterthe occurrence of glove-release Gr, issuance of a release event and atouch event responsive to these detection signals is skipped. Thus, whena finger is moved closer to the numerical keypad 104 b slowly, only thetouch event T1 and the release event R1 in a single group are issued. Inthis way, this movement of the finger is regarded as a single tapoperation, so that one value is entered in the entry box 104 a asillustrated in FIG. 16.

According to the first embodiment, executing the event skip controlprocess can make it unlikely that a touch operation with a finger beingmoved closer to the touch panel 4 slowly will be handled as two tapoperations.

Second Embodiment

According to the first embodiment, to prevent a tap operation with afinger being moved closer to the touch panel 4 slowly from being handledas two tap operations, issuance of a release event is skipped when adetection signal indicating finger-touch has been received for a lapseof the given threshold length of time Tt after receipt of a detectionsignal indicating glove-release.

FIGS. 17 and 18 each illustrate a schematic view showing a relationshipbetween the touch panel 4 and a finger being moved farther from thetouch panel 4 slowly in terms of their positions. FIG. 19 illustrates aconceptual view showing a detection signal output from the touchdetector 14 when a finger is moved farther from the touch panel 4 slowlyand timing of issuance of a touch event and a release event by thecontroller 11 according to the first embodiment.

When a finger in a state of contacting the touch panel 4 illustrated inFIG. 17 is moved farther from the touch panel 4 slowly as illustrated inFIG. 18, this movement of the finger may be handled as two tapoperations.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, when the finger is moved farther from thetouch panel 4 slowly, the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signalindicating finger-tough Ft and outputs a detection signal indicatingfinger-release Fr with subsequent detection timing. The touch detector14 outputs a detection signal indicating glove-touch Ft with subsequentdetection timing and outputs a detection signal indicating glove-releaseGr with subsequent detection timing. Hence, in this case, four eventsincluding a touch event T3, a release event R3, a touch event T4, and arelease event R4 are issued and handled as two tap operations.

Then, according to a second embodiment, issuance of an event relating toglove-touch occurring continuously with finger-release is skipped, asillustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 20. The flowchart of FIG. 20includes partial change from the flowchart of FIG. 14 and additionallyincludes processing steps of S221 to S227.

When a detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesfinger-release (S204: YES), the controller 11 starts a timer (S221) todetermine whether or not the touch detector 14 has output a detectionsignal indicating glove-touch (S222, S223) for a lapse of a giventhreshold length of time Tt (S224).

When a detection signal indicating glove-touch has been received fromthe touch detector 14 (S223: YES) for a lapse of the threshold length oftime Tt, the controller 11 stops the timer (S225) and advances theprocess to S103 without issuing both of a touch event and a releaseevent. In this way, when there is glove-touch within a short length oftime after the occurrence of finger-release, issuance of eventsresponsive to these detection signals is skipped.

When a count on the timer exceeds the threshold length of time Tt (S224:YES) while a detection signal indicating glove-touch has not beenreceived from the touch detector 14 for a lapse of the threshold lengthof time Tt (S223: NO), the controller 11 stops the timer (S226) andissues a release event (S227). When glove-touch is determined not tohave occurred continuously with finger-release in this way, thisfinger-release is regarded as resulting from release of a finger notwearing a glove. Then, a release event is issued.

As described above, when a detection signal indicating glove-touch Gthas been received for a lapse of the threshold length of time Tt afterthe occurrence of finger-release Fr, issuance of a release event and atouch event responsive to these detection signals is skipped. Thus, whena finger is moved farther from the touch panel 4 slowly, only a touchevent and a release event in a single group are issued. In this way,this movement of the finger is regarded as a single tap operation.

According to the second embodiment, executing the event skip controlprocess can make it unlikely that a touch operation with a finger beingmoved farther from the touch panel 4 slowly will be handled as two tapoperations.

Third Embodiment

In many cases, an operation by a user on the display 3 is performed witha finger. During the cold season, an operation may be performed with afinger wearing a glove. Meanwhile, even in the cold season, an operationfor example in indoor space may be performed with a finger from which aglove has been removed.

FIGS. 21 and 22 each illustrate a schematic view showing a relationshipbetween the touch panel 4 and a finger from which a glove has beenremoved in terms of their positions.

For example, when the finger from which the glove has been removed ismoved closer to the touch panel 4 as illustrated in FIG. 21, capacitanceaccumulated in the touch panel 4 first exceeds the glove-touch thresholdTh1. Then, a touch operation is detected at sensitivity determined onthe assumption that the touch operation is performed with the fingerwearing the glove. In this case, when a user tries to operate the touchpanel 4 with the finger not wearing the glove as illustrated in FIG. 22,a touch operation such as a tap operation or a slide operation isdetected in a position slightly separated from the touch panel 4. Thiscauses a risk in that user's feeling of operation on the touch panel 4is worsened.

It is very likely that a touch operation performed after a finger-touchis detected once by the touch detector 14 will be an operation with afinger not wearing a glove. Thus, in the mobile phone 1 according to athird embodiment, the controller 11 executes a control process of makinga switch between a “high-sensitive mode” by which the sensitivity of thetouch panel 4 is set to be appropriate for a finger wearing a glove anda “normal mode” by which the sensitivity of the touch panel 4 is set tobe appropriate for a finger not wearing a glove. Specifically, thecontroller 11 executes a mode switching control process. For example,both the glove-touch threshold Th1 and the finger-touch threshold Th2are validated in the “high-sensitive mode.” Only the finger-touchthreshold Th2 is validated in the “normal mode.”

FIGS. 23 and 24 each illustrate a flowchart showing a touch detectioncontrol process according to the third embodiment. The flowchart of FIG.23 includes partial change from the flowchart of FIG. 13 according tothe first embodiment and additionally includes a processing step ofS111. The flowchart of FIG. 24 includes partial change from theflowchart of FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment and additionallyincludes a processing step of S231.

When screen display on the display 3 has been started (S101: YES), thecontroller 11 sets the touch detector 14 in the high-sensitive mode(S111). This validates the glove-touch threshold Th1 and thefinger-touch threshold Th2 at the touch detector 14 that respectivelycorrespond to the positions P1 and P2 illustrated in each of FIGS. 5 and6. In this case, the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signalindicating any of glove-touch, glove-release, finger-touch, andfinger-release at a given time interval.

When a detection signal has been received from the touch detector 14(S102: YES), the controller 11 executes the event issuance process(S104).

When the detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesfinger-touch (S203: YES), the controller 11 sets the touch detector 14in the normal mode (S231). This validates only the finger-touchthreshold Th2 at the touch detector 14 that corresponds to the positionP2 illustrated in each of FIGS. 5 and 6. In this case, the touchdetector 14 outputs a detection signal indicating finger-touch orfinger-release at a given detection interval. After setting the touchdetector 14 in the normal mode, the controller 11 issues a touch eventon the touch panel 4 (S213).

FIGS. 25 to 28 each illustrate a schematic view showing how a mode isset at the touch detector 14 depending on the state of an operation onthe touch panel 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 25, when a finger is widely separated from thetouch panel 4, the touch detector 14 is set in the high-sensitive modein the processing step of S111. In the state of FIG. 11, the finger islocated in a position farther from the touch panel 4 than the positionP1 corresponding to the glove-touch threshold Th1. In this case, adetection signal is not output from the touch detector 14, so that adetermination made in the processing step of S102 is NO.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, when the touch panel 4 is operated with afinger wearing a glove, the finger is located between the positions P1and P2. In this case, the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signalindicating glove-touch. Thus, a determination made in the processingstep of S201 of FIG. 14 is YES. Then, a touch event is issued in theprocessing step of S205. When the finger wearing the glove is releasedfrom the touch panel 4 thereafter, the finger is located in a positionfarther from the touch panel 4 than the position P1. In this case, thetouch detector 14 outputs a detection signal indicating glove-release,so that a determination made in the processing step of S202 is YES. Whena detection signal indicating finger-touch has not been output within ashort length of time thereafter, a release event is issued in theprocessing step of S212.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, in the absence ofany detection of finger-touch after a screen is displayed on the display3, the touch detector 14 is set in the high-sensitive mode. Thus, even auser wearing a glove is still allowed to perform a touch operation onthe touch panel 4 properly.

As illustrated in FIG. 27, when the touch panel 4 is operated with afinger from which a glove has been removed, the finger is located in aposition closer to the touch panel 4 than the position P2. In this case,the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signal indicatingfinger-touch. Thus, a determination made in the processing step of S203is YES. Then, the touch detector 14 is set in the normal mode in theprocessing step of S231. Next, a touch event is issued in the processingstep of S213. When the finger is released from the touch panel 4thereafter, the finger is located in a position farther from the touchpanel 4 than the position P2. In this case, the touch detector 14outputs a detection signal indicating finger-release, so that adetermination made in the processing step of S204 is YES. Then, arelease event is issued in the processing step of S214.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the touchdetector 14 is set in the normal mode after detection of finger-touch.Thus, when a finger is moved farther from the touch panel 4 than theposition P2 as illustrated in FIG. 28, the touch detector 14 does notoutput a detection signal. This can prevent detection of a touchoperation such as a tap operation or a slide operation performed in aposition separated from the touch panel 4 with a finger from which aglove has been removed. In this way, worsening of user's feeling ofoperation can be prevented.

According to the third embodiment, the touch detector 14 is set in thenormal mode after detection of finger-touch. This can make it unlikelythat, even when a finger contacts the touch panel 4 and is then movedfarther from the touch panel 4 slowly, a touch operation will be handledas two tap operations.

When the screen display on the display 3 is finished thereafter and thenscreen display is started again, the high-sensitive mode is set again atthe touch detector 14 in the processing step of S111.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when screendisplay on the display 3 is finished and then screen display is startedagain, the high-sensitive mode is set at the touch detector 14. Thus,even when a user operates the touch panel 4 with a finger during theprevious screen display and then wears a glove, the user is stillallowed to perform a touch operation on the touch panel 4 properly.

While some embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove, the present disclosure is never to be restricted to someembodiments described above, etc. In addition to some embodimentsdescribed above, an embodiment of the present disclosure can be subjectto various modifications.

First Modification

The touch detector 14 outputs a detection signal indicating finger-touchwhen capacitance accumulated in the touch panel 4 is larger than orequal to the finger-touch threshold corresponding to the position P2.Thus, it is likely that the touch detector 14 will output a detectionsignal indicating finger-touch not only in the case where the touchpanel 4 is operated with a finger but also in the case where a majorpart of a surface of the touch panel 4 is covered with a cheek during acall, for example. When a mode at the touch detector 14 is switched tothe normal mode in this case, it may be impossible to operate the touchpanel 4 smoothly with a finger wearing a glove after the call. In themobile phone 1 according to a first modification, when the touchdetector 14 outputs a detection signal indicating finger-touch, a modeat the touch detector 14 is switched to the normal mode depending on thearea of a region where the touch panel 4 is touched.

FIG. 29 illustrates a flowchart showing a touch detection controlprocess according to the first modification. The flowchart of FIG. 29includes partial change from the flowchart of FIG. 24 according to thethird embodiment and additionally includes a processing step of S241.

When a detection signal from the touch detector 14 indicatesfinger-touch (S203: YES), the controller 11 determines whether or notthe area of a region where the touch panel 4 is touched is larger thanor equal to a given threshold Ta (S241). For example, the threshold Tais set in such a manner that a distinction can be made between an areaof contact of the touch panel 4 with a cheek during a call and an areaof contact of the touch panel 4 with a finger during a touch operation.When the area of the touched region is larger than or equal to the giventhreshold Ta (S241: YES), the controller 11 issues a touch event withoutsetting the touch detector 14 at the normal mode (S213). When the areaof the touched region is less than the given threshold Ta (S241: NO),the controller 11 sets the touch detector 14 in the normal mode (S231),and then issues a touch event (S213).

FIGS. 30 and 31 each illustrate a schematic view showing how a mode isset at the touch detector 14 depending on the state of an operation onthe touch panel 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, when a cheek contacts the touch panel 4during a call, the area of the touched region of the touch panel 4 islarger than the area of a region of the touch panel 4 such as oneillustrated in FIG. 31 where the touch panel 4 is touched during a touchoperation. Thus, in this case, the area of the touched region of thetouch panel 4 exceeds the threshold Ta, so that a determination made inthe processing step of S241 is YES. As a result, a touch event is issuedin the processing step of S213 while the touch detector 14 is not set inthe normal mode.

As described above, according to the first modification, even in thepresence of detection of finger-touch by the touch detector 14, thetouch detector 14 is not set in the normal mode when the area of atouched region of the touch panel 4 is large. Thus, even when a usercontinues wearing a glove after a call is finished, the user is stillallowed to perform a touch operation smoothly on the touch panel 4. Acheek contacts the touch panel 4 not only during a call but also duringcheck of a message on an answering machine. Thus, even when a usercontinues wearing a glove after playback of the message on the answeringmachine is finished, the user is still allowed to perform a touchoperation smoothly on the touch panel 4.

Second Modification

In the mobile phone 1 according to a second modification, a mode at thetouch detector 14 is switched to the high-sensitive mode with timing offinish of a call.

FIG. 32 illustrates a flowchart showing a call control process accordingto the second modification.

Processing steps of S303 and S304 in the call control processillustrated in FIG. 32 correspond to the mode switching control process.

After the mobile phone 1 is started, the controller 11 first checks tosee whether or not a call has been started (S301). The start of callmentioned herein includes making an outgoing call from a user andresponding to an incoming call by the user, for example. When a call hasbeen started (S301: YES), the controller 11 executes processes relatingto the call including display of a call screen and input and outputprocesses on received voice, etc. (S302). The controller 11 checks tosee whether or not the call has been finished (S303). When the call hasnot been finished (S303: NO), the controller 11 continues executing theprocesses relating to the call. When the call is finished (S303: YES),the controller 11 sets the touch detector 14 in the high-sensitive mode(S304).

FIGS. 33 and 34 each illustrate a schematic view showing how a mode isset at the touch detector 14 depending on the state of a call.

As illustrated in FIG. 33, a cheek contacts the surface of the touchpanel 4 during a call. Thus, in the processing step of S231 illustratedin FIG. 24, the touch detector 14 is set in the normal mode. When thecall is finished, the cheek is released from the surface of the touchpanel 4. Thus, in the processing step of S304 illustrated in FIG. 32,the high-sensitive mode is set again at the touch detector 14.

As described above, according to the second modification, when a cheekcontacts the surface of the touch panel 4 so the touch detector 14 isset in the normal mode, the touch detector 14 is set in thehigh-sensitive mode with timing of finish of a call. Thus, even when auser wears a glove after the call is finished, the user is still allowedto perform a touch operation smoothly on the touch panel 4.

The call control process according to the second modification may becombined with the touch detection control process according to the thirdembodiment or with the aforementioned touch detection control processaccording to the first modification.

Other Modifications

According to the first embodiment, a determination of whether or notissuance of an event is to be skipped is made depending on a time lagbetween the occurrence of glove-release and that of finger-release. Adetermination of whether or not issuance of an event is to be skippedmay be made depending on a different time lag. For example, issuance ofan event may be skipped depending on a time lag between the occurrenceof glove-touch and that of finger-touch. As another example, issuance ofan event may be skipped depending on a time lag between the occurrenceof glove-touch and that of finger-release.

According to the third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the touchdetector 14 is set in the normal mode when a detection signal from thetouch detector 14 indicates finger-touch (S203: YES). The touch detector14 may also be set in the normal mode when the touch detector 14 outputsa detection signal indicating finger-release (S204: YES).

According to the first modification, as illustrated in FIG. 29, controlis executed in such a manner that, even when a detection signal from thetouch detector 14 indicates finger-touch (S203: YES), the touch detector14 is not set in the normal mode on condition that the area of a touchedregion is larger than or equal to the given threshold Ta (S241: YES).Alternatively, when the area of the touched region is larger than orequal to the given threshold Ta, the normal mode may be set once at thetouch detector 14. When the touch detector 14 outputs a detection signalindicating finger-release thereafter (S204: YES), the high-sensitivemode may be set again at the touch detector 14.

According to the third embodiment and the first and secondmodifications, by setting the touch detector 14 in the normal mode afterdetection of finger-touch, it becomes unlikely that the touch detector14 will detect a touch operation performed in a position separated fromthe touch panel 4 with a finger not wearing a glove. Meanwhile, the twodetection modes including the high-sensitive mode and the normal modemay not be set at the touch detector 14 but may be set at the controller11. In this case, the controller 11 may validate two detection signalsindicating glove-touch and finger-touch in the high-sensitive mode. Inthe normal mode, the controller 11 may validate a detection signalindicating finger-touch and may disregard a detection signal indicatingglove-touch.

The present disclosure is applicable not only to a mobile phone such asa smartphone but also to mobiles phones of other types such as astraight phone, a folding phone, and a sliding phone.

According to some embodiments described above, when accumulatedcapacitance is less than the threshold Th1 with given detection timing,a detection signal indicating glove-release is output. Meanwhile, evenwhen accumulated capacitance is less than the threshold Th1 with givendetection timing, a signal indicating glove-release may not be output. Asignal indicating glove-release may be output when the accumulatedcapacitance is less than a glove-touch threshold Th3 (Th3<Th1). This canmake it unlikely that a signal indicating glove-touch and a signalindicating glove-release will be output repeatedly to cause repeatedentry of characters, etc. in response to a phenomenon such as vibrationof a finger occurring when a tap operation is performed with the fingerin the vicinity of the position P1 slightly separated from the touchpanel 4.

The present disclosure is applicable not only to a mobile phone but alsoto various mobile terminals such as a personal digital assistant (PDA)and a tablet PC. The present disclosure is further applicable to adigital camera, a digital video camera, a mobile music player, and amobile game machine. Specifically, the present disclosure is applicableto various types of mobile electronic devices with displays on whichoperations are to be performed.

While the mobile phone 1 has been described in detail above, theforegoing description is in all aspects illustrative and does notrestrict the present disclosure. The various modifications describedabove can be applied in combination as long as they do not contradicteach other. It is understood that numerous modifications not illustratedcan be devised without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

1. A mobile electronic device comprising: a display; an operationdetector capable of detecting a first touch operation and a second touchoperation on the display performed by a part of a human body; and aprocessor configured to execute a control process responsive to thefirst touch operation and the second touch operation, the part of thehuman body performing the second touch operation being located in aposition farther from the display than a position of the part of thehuman body performing the first touch operation, the processor beingconfigured to execute the control process while handling the first touchoperation and the second touch operation performed continuously as asingle touch operation, depending on a time lag between the first touchoperation and the second touch operation.
 2. The mobile electronicdevice according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured tohandle the first touch operation and the second touch operationperformed continuously as a single touch operation, depending on a timelag from the second touch operation to the first touch operation.
 3. Themobile electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the processor isconfigured to handle the first touch operation and the second touchoperation performed continuously as a single touch operation, dependingon a time lag from when the second touch operation is completed to whenthe first touch operation is started.
 4. The mobile electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein when the first touch operation is detectedwhile a first mode of detecting the first touch operation and the secondtouch operation is set as a detection mode, a second mode of notdetecting the second touch operation is set as the detection mode.
 5. Amethod of controlling a mobile electronic device, the mobile electronicdevice comprising a display and an operation detector capable ofdetecting a first touch operation and a second touch operation on thedisplay performed by a part of a human body, the part of the human bodyperforming the second touch operation being located in a positionfarther from the display than a position of the part of the human bodyperforming the first touch operation, the method comprising: detecting atime lag between the first touch operation and the second touchoperation; and executing a control process while handling the firsttouch operation and the second touch operation performed continuously asa single touch operation depending on the time lag.
 6. Acomputer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing a controlprogram for controlling a mobile electronic device comprising a displayand an operation detector capable of detecting a first touch operationand a second touch operation on the display performed by a part of ahuman body, the part of the human body performing the second touchoperation being located in a position farther from the display than aposition of the part of the human body performing the first touchoperation, the control program causing the mobile electronic device toexecute a control process while causing the mobile electronic device tohandle the first touch operation and the second touch operationperformed continuously as a single touch operation, depending on a timelag between the first touch operation and the second touch operation.